Flesh-footed Shearwater population estimation and foraging ecology Susan Waugh & Sarah Jamieson Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Acknowledgements • DOC funded this programme (POP2011-02) & scientists provided advice • Ngati Wai Trust Board assisted with preparing for access to Lady Alice Island / Mauimua • Ngati Hei provided assistance with access to Ohinau Island • Ngati Kuia provided assistance with access to Titi Island • Jean-Claude Stahl, Robyn Blyth, Raymond Thorely, Kalin Lewis, Alison Burnett, Simon Hayward, & Gillian Stone gave excellent assistance in the field • Te Papa provided help with field logistics & expert advice • Graeme Taylor and Andrea Booth provided advice
Outline • Flesh-footed shearwater introduction • Rationale for study • Objectives • Study methods • Preliminary results • Plans for 2012-2013
Flesh-water Shearwater (FFSW) • Medium-sized tubenose • Breeds in NZ & Australia • Capable of diving up to 4m Georges Olioso • One of the most common sub-tropical seabirds (est. pop. 650,000 individuals) • Listed as Least Threatened (IUCN) and At Risk Declining (DOC)
Tubenose Demography • Slow breeders, 1 chick per yr • Breed at a late age (>5 yrs) • Long lived (>40 yrs) Consequently even small decreases in adult survival can have large negative effects on population health
Rational for FFSW Study • Populations are declining • Foraging ranges likely strongly overlap with poorly observed longline & gillnet fisheries • One of the most commonly killed species during the Rena oil spill • Forage near the Fukushima Nuclear plant- potential Colin Miskelly exposure to contamination
Objectives 1) To assess the feasibility of gaining improved estimates of key population parameters – Compare current and historical data – Describe population trends 2) To investigate the at-sea distribution – Potential strong overlap with fisheries – Determine trophic levels
Locations for Intense Study # of potential # of occupied burrows burrows (95% CI) (95% CI) Lady Alice / Mauimua 2763 921 (2079 - 3447) (237 - 1605) (Hen &Chicken Islands Group) 3883 2071 Ohinau (2775 - 5011) (943 - 3200) (Mercury Islands Group) 2814 337 Titi (Cook Strait) (2201 - 3427) (0 - 950) Baker et al . 2010
Methods To assess the feasibility of gaining improved estimates of key population parameters - Run a Mark-Recapture Analysis - Conduct transect surveys on the 3 islands - Map breeding colonies - Assess occupancy using burrowscope inspection
Methods To investigate the at-sea distribution - Deploy GLS or GPS loggers on breeding birds from the 3 islands (GLS collects data over several months, GPS >10 days) - Conduct stable isotope analyses on feathers to assess trophic level Alison Burnett & Simon Hayward
Preliminary Results- Lady Alice / Mauimua March 28- April 6, 2012 • 7 colonies mapped, 39 transects completed, 395 burrows examined • FFSW occupancy rate of colonies: 0-21% – Colonies dominated by Grey-faced Petrels tended to have no FFSW • 11% of burrows examined were occupied by FFSW – 1% of which contained abandoned eggs • Potential for competition with GFP for nest sites
Preliminary Results- Ohinau April 11-14, 2012 • 3 colonies mapped, 26 transects completed, 300 burrows examined • FFSW occupancy rate of colonies: 21-25% • 23% of burrows examined were occupied by FFSW – 5% of which contained abandoned eggs
Preliminary Results- Titi January 9-17, 2012 • 10 colonies mapped, 62 transects completed, 500 burrows examined • FFSW occupancy rate of colonies: 0-29% – Colonies dominated by Sooty Shearwaters tended to have very few FFSW • 6% of burrows examined were occupied by FFSW – 5% of which contained abandoned eggs • More colonies were found than by Baker et al . 2010
Preliminary Results % % of FFSW burrows burrows with % burrows colonies transects burrows occupied abandoned occupied by mapped completed examined by FFSW eggs other species Lady Alice / 7 39 395 11 1 6 Mauimua (28/03-6/04) Ohinau 3 26 300 23 5 1 (11-14/04) Titi 10 62 500 6 5 10 (9-17/01)
Preliminary Results- Logger Deployment • Lady Alice- 19 GLS*, c. 30 study burrows • Ohinau- 4 GLS*, 50 study borrows • Titi- 6 GPS, 20 study burrows (+8 on Sooty Shearwaters) – Due to long incubation bouts of tagged birds only 1 logger contained usable data * to be retrieved during 2012-13 season
Mark-Recapture Analyses Data compiled: • Lady Alice Island 10 years (Andrea Booth) • Betthel’s Beach 23 years (Graeme Taylor) Analysis has been completed. grahamenz.com
Plans for 2012-2013 • Revisit and survey islands – Lady Alice (4-17 Dec) – Ohinau (17-24 Dec, 1-14 March) – Titi (7-21 Jan) • Retrieve GLS loggers deployed in April • Re-survey main colonies for B. Baker density/occupancy information • Deploy 30 GPS loggers at each site • Sample more feathers and blood • Conduct stable isotope analysis
Thank you Georgie Hedley Georgie Hedley
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